Physics – 3.2.2 Refraction of light | e-Consult

Apparatus:

• Transparent blocks of different shapes (e.g., rectangular prism, curved prism, wedge prism)
• A source of light (e.g., a torch or laser pointer)
• A white screen or paper
• A ruler or measuring tape
• A protractor
• A steady support for the blocks

Procedure:

1. Set up the experiment with the light source, transparent block, and white screen. Ensure the light beam strikes the block at an angle.
2. Observe the path of the light beam as it passes through the block and projects onto the screen.
3. For each block shape:
4. Carefully mark the point where the light beam enters the block and the point where it exits the block on the screen.
5. Measure the angle of incidence (the angle between the incoming light ray and the normal to the surface of the block) and the angle of refraction (the angle between the refracted light ray and the normal to the surface of the block) for each block shape. Use the protractor for these measurements.
6. Repeat the measurements several times for each block shape to improve accuracy.

Recording and Presentation:

Record the angle of incidence and angle of refraction for each block shape in a table. The table should have columns for 'Block Shape', 'Angle of Incidence', and 'Angle of Refraction'. After collecting the data, plot a graph of angle of incidence against angle of refraction for each block shape. The graph should show a clear relationship between the two angles. Discuss the shape of the refracted beam and relate it to the shape of the block. Explain how the refraction occurs due to the change in speed of light as it passes from one medium to another.